Rail and wheel flange lubricator



Sept. 20, 1955 G. C. HURRELL RAIL AND WHEEL FLANGE LUBRICATOR 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 24, 1955 INVE N'TOE G. c. HURRELL 2,718,280

RAIL AND WHEEL FLANGE LUBRICATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 20, 1955 FiledMarch 24, 1953 I g I v r a 5 i l I 5 I a I o VIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII.'lIIIIlIl'A/IIIIIIII INVENTOK BY 07%; Y/ZAQL 19 T TOk/YE) Sept. 20, 1955G. c. HURRELL 2,718,280

RAIL AND WHEEL FLANGE LUBRICATOR Filed March 24, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 dk ;\3\1 Q I x Z i432 z 4 -72 I 2 5-55 F166. 4 j E BY J. 2% mafia III kINVENTOE P 20, 1955 5. c. HURRELL 2,718,280

RAIL AND WHEEL FLANGE LUBRICATOR Filed March 24, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 NVENTOR BY M mbie R TTORNEY United States Patent RAIL AND WHEEL FLANGELUBRICATOR Guy Clement Hurrell, Eltham, London, England, assignor toExecutors of James Mills Limited, Woodley, near Stockport, England, aBritish company Application March 24, 1953, Serial No. 344,350

Claims priority, application Great Britain April 2, 1952 14 Claims. (Cl.184-3) This invention relates to rail and wheel flange lubricators forapplying lubricant to railway and tramway rails as well as to theflanges of the wheels of the passing vehicles for the purpose ofreducing frictional wear between the wheel flanges and the rails, moreparticularly when the vehicles are passing around sharp curves.

The invention is concerned with lubricators for the above describedpurpose which are of the kind comprising a lubricant feeding unitadapted for mounting in a'stationary manner on the rail supporting bed,such as the ballast, and means operated by the vertical deflection ofthe rail consequent on the passing traffic for supplying lubricant fromsaid lubricant feeding means to the rail, such as to the side of a railhead.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide raillubricating means of the kind described which is of particularly simpleand inexpensive but robust construction and which is not likely to getout of order after quite a prolonged period of use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rail lubricating meansof the kind described with means for automatically compensating againstunduly large vertical movement of the rail which might otherwise resultin damage to the device in operation.

A further object is to provide a lubricant feeding means as abovedescribed embodying a lubricant feeding pump which can'particularlyreadily be removed and replaced for cleaning purposes.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription and the accompanying claims.

The invention in its broadest aspect comprises a lubricant feedingdevice for the purpose described, comprising a lubricant feeding unitadapted for mounting in a stationary manner on the rail supporting bed,said unit embodying a container for lubricant and a lubricant feedingpump, means for supplying lubricant from the punip to the rail, a pumpoperating element mounted or adapted to be mounted on the rail so as toproject to one side thereof and adapted to be displaced in asubstantially vertical direction under the vertical rail deflectionconsequent on the passing trafiic, said pump being a reciprocating pumphaving a plunger mounted for substantially vertical movement andprovided with an actuating element mounted on the pump casing forreciprocatory movement in alignment with the pump plunger, the actuatingelement projecting externally of the casing and being adapted to beengaged releasably by said operating element, the arrangement permittingof the pump being removed from the pump casing and replaced whendesired.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of rail lubricating device inaccordance with the present invention.

Figures 2, 3 and 4 are sectional views on the lines 22, 33 and 4-4respectively of Figure 1, Figures 3 and 4 being drawn in each case to anenlarged scale.

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Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing a slight modification ofthe arrangement there depicted.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 66 of Figure 3 drawn to anenlarged scale.

Figure 7 is a view of the upper part of the arrangement shown in Figure6 illustrating a modification.

Figures 8, 9 and 10 are sectional views taken on part of the line 2-2 ofFigure 1, showing three modifications.

Figure 11 is a plan view of the construction depicted in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 10 showing a further modification.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 4 and 6 of the drawings, the inventionis there illustrated as applied to the lubrication of railway rails inwhich each rail 15, 16 is lubricated at a predetermined position alongthe rail track on the inner side in each case of the rail head 17.

The lubricating device provided for this purpose comprises a feedingunit illustrated generally at 18 supported in a stationary manner uponthe rail bed formed as shown by the ballast 19, such feeding unit, asillustrated, being disposed between two rails 15, 16, although it shouldbe understood that it may be disposed entirely to one side of the railscompletely clear of the passing trafiic so as to facilitate inspectionand refilling of the feeding unit with lubricant.

The feeding unit comprises a vertically disposed cylindrical container20 shown most clearly in Figure 3, the bottom of which container is openand has mounted therein a filter plate 21 spaced above the base 22 ofthe feeding unit so as to provide a passage 23 to a pump containingchamber 24 integral with the lubricant container 20 so as to beseparated therefrom merely by a partition wall 25.

Lubricant, which is preferably in the form of semisolid grease, is fedgravitationally into the pump containing chamber 24 by means of aweighted piston 26 vertically slidable within the cylindrical container20, this piston being adapted to be withdrawn when refilling of thecontainer 20 is necessary, and being provided with a screwed hole 27 forthe attachment of a lifting handle, which lifting handle would have athreaded end for engagement within said hole 27 and would be adaptedwhen in position to engage and open automatically an air release valve28 which is normally displaced by a spring 29 upwardly into a closedposition, the valve when open permitting of air passing freely throughthe centre of the piston 26 to permit of the piston being readilywithdrawn without any air lock on the under side thereof.

The container 20 is provided with a hinged lid 30.

Mounted detachably within the pump containing chamber 24 is a lubricantfeeding pump illustrated, generally at 31 and shown more particularly inFigure 6, such pump being removably inserted through a hole 32 formed inthe upper wall 33 of the chamber 24 to which it is secured detachably byscrews 34.

As shown in Figure 6, this pump is of the reciprocating plunger type andcomprises a vertically disposed barrel 35, the lower end of whichcarries a removable inlet valve seating 36 provided with a non-returninlet valve member. 37 of the ball type, having a control spring 38.

The lower end of the barrel 35 including its inlet valve 37 extendssubstantially to the bottom of the container 20 so as normally to becompletely immersed within the lubricant fed into the interior of thechamber 24 by the gravitational movement of the piston 26.

The pump barrel 35 is provided in its lower portion with a liner 39 inwhich works the pump plunger 40, which plunger is in the form of ahollow cylinder substantially closed at its upper and lower ends, itslower end having a central opening 41 normally closed by a plunger valve42 loaded by a spring 43. The upper end 44 of the cylindrical plunger 40is provided with a plurality of axially extending apertures 45 and ismounted on the lower end of a plunger rod 46.

The arrangement is such that when the plunger rod with its associatedhollow cylindrical plunger 40 is displaced in a downward direction, thevalve member 42 is caused to open against the loading of its spring 43,thus admitting lubricant to the hollow interior of the plunger, whilewhen the plunger moves in an upward direction, the valve member 42closes so that the pump then acts as a reciprocating lift pump, raisingthe lubricant upwardly of the pump barrel 35. i

The upper end of the pump barrel 35 is mounted detachably in a lubricantdistributing head 47 provided internally with lubricant distributingpassages 48 which are in communication with the interior of the upperend of the barrel 35. This distributing head is also connecteddetachably as above described by the screws 34 to the pump chamber 24,the arrangement being such that when the head is removed, there isremoved with it the barrel 35 connected to the head.

Also formed in the interior of the distributing head 47 is a by-passpassage 49 which communicates with the upper end of the interior. of theplunger 35, the by-pass passage being adapted to be partially closed bya bypass valve member 50 which is threadably mounted within theinterior'of the distributing head, the arrangement being such that whenthis by-pass valve member is fully withdrawn, the by-pass passage 49 isfully open so that in these circumstances the major portion of thelubricant displaced by the pump barrel returns through the by-passpassage 49 to the interior of the top of the chamber 24, while when thevalve member 50 is displaced inwardly of the head 47, the major portionof the lubricant so displaced is then fed to the distributing passages48. Thus the amount of lubricant fed to the distributing passages 48 fora given stroke of the pump may be regulated.

The distributing passages 48 are connected through a number ofdistributing pipes 51 of flexible form as shown most clearly in Figure1, to rail lubricating applicators 52 mounted on the inside of each ofthe two rails 15, 16 adjacent the web thereof as shown most clearly inFigure 4.

Each applicator 52 comprises a channel member 53 having its axishorizontal and with its open side directed towards the adjacent railweb, the channel being divided by a central horizontal partition 54 intotwo chambers, namely, a lower lubricant receiving chamber 55 connectedto the associated distributing pipe 51 and communicating through anopening 56 in the partition 54 with the second of these two chambers 57which forms a lubricant applying chamber. This chamber communicatesthrough a series of longitudinally spaced holes 58 with a space 59formed between the upper side of the channel member 53 and the adjacentunder side of the rail head.

The side of this space which is directed away from the rail issubstantially closed by a thin metal tongue 60 secured to the channelmember 53 and extending for the full length thereof, the tongue being soarranged that a slight gap is left between its top edge 61 and theadjacent side of the rail head, into which gap lubricant is fed by theaction of the lubricant pump as above described.

The upper edge 61 of this tongue is adapted to be engaged as shown inFigure 4 by the flange 62 of the passing wheels, thereby forcing theupper edge of the tongue towards the rail head and squeezing lubricantwithin the gap in so doing into the space 63 above the tongue betweenthe side of the rail head and the wheel flange, thereby lubricatingthese two parts each time a wheel passes in contact with the tongue asabove described.

A slightly modified form of 'this arrangement is shown in Figure 5 inwhich the channel member 53 is unprovided with the central partition 54,but is instead formed internally with a series of horizontally spacedhollow bosses 64 which communicate at one side through an opening 65with the hollow interior of the channel member, each boss beingthreadably connected by a pipe union 66 to one of the distributing pipes51, which union passes through a hole in the rail web and by beingprovided with a nut 67 serves to hold the applicator 52 in this modifiedarrangement in position without providing separate securing means forthat purpose as shown with the arrangement illustrated in Figures 1 to4.

The pump 31 is adapted to be operated by the vertical deflection of oneof the two rails consequent on the passing traffic, and for this purposethe upper end of the plunger rod 46 has rigidly secured thereto anactuating element 68 mounted for vertical reciprocating movement in asleeve 69 integral with the distributing head 47, that is to say, theactuating element 68 is mounted for reciprocatory movement in the pumpcasing in alignment with the direction of reciprocation of the pumpplunger, and the pump plunger is displaced in an upward direction by aspring 70 acting between a shoulder 71 on the under side of theactuating element 68 and a plate 72 fixed to the interior of the barrel35.

The actuating element 68 projects beyond the sleeve 69 so that its upperend 73 is exposed and is adapted to be engaged by the under side of anoperating element 74 mounted on the inner side of one of the two rails,namely, the rail 15, the arrangement being such that when this rail isdisplaced downwardly under the weight of the passing traflic, carryingwith it the operating element, the actuating element 68 is alsodisplaced so as to efiect downward displacement of the pump plunger 40to supply lubricant to the interior thereof, actual upward delivery ofthe lubricant occurring during the upward movement of the rail when theplunger itself moves upwardly under the action of the spring 70.

With the particular arrangement illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, provisionis made for ensuring that an unduly large downward movement of the rail15 is not transmitted to the pump plunger 40 so as either to damage thepump or to cause during its return stroke an unduly large quantity oflubricant to be fed to the rail heads with consequent possible slippingof the locomotive or other propelling vehicle.

Such undue downward displacement of the rail may occur as a result of anabnormally heavy load or as a result of a downward settlement of therail relative to the rail bed as is liable to occur from time to timewith any railway.

Accordingly the operating element 74 is made in two parts, namely, ananchorage part 75 which, as illustrated, is formed integral with theadjacent applicator channel member 53, and an arm 76 connected pivotallyat 77 to the anchorage part 75.

The arm 76 is adapted on its under side toengage with the upper end 73of the actuating element 68.

The anchorage part 75 at a position beneath the pivot 77 is threadablysecured to one end of a horizontally extending adjusting bolt 78 whichextends freely through a hole formed in a dependent portion 79 of thearm 76, a compression spring 80 being provided between the bolt head andthis dependent portion. The arrangement is such that if the rail 15 isdisplaced downwardly by more than a predetermined distance, the underside of the upper end 73 of the actuating element 68 engages with theupper end of a cap 81 mounted on the sleeve 69 (see Figure 6), and onfurther downward movement of the rail occurring. the arm 76 pivots inrelation to the anchorage part 75 compressing the spring 80 in so doingwithout any further movement being transmitted to the pump plunger 49,the arm 76 returning to its normal position when the rail 15 itselfreturns to its normal position.

In Figure 7 is shown a modified arrangement for allowing for undesirabledownward movement of the rail, in which the operating element 74 isconstructed as asingle one-piece arm 76 rigid with the rail, and alost-motion connection is provided between the actuating element 68 andthe pump rod 46. For this purpose the upper end of the pump rod 46 isconnected to a cylindrical sleeve member 82 vertically slidable withinthe distributing head sleeve 69, a compression spring 83 being providedbetween the element 68 and this sleeve member 82 so that if an undulylarge downward movement is transmitted to the element 68, the spring iscompressed without such movement being transmitted to the pump plunger.

In Figure 8 no provision is made for taking into account unduly largevertical movements of the rail, the actuating element 68 being connecteddirectly to the pump rod 46 -in the manner shown in Figure 6, and theoperating element 74 being formed as a one-piece arm rigid with therail. This arrangement is intended for situations where udue downwardmovement of the rail is not likely to occur.

In Figure 9 is illusrtated a modification of the arrangement shown inFigures 1 to 3, in which instead of connecting the arm 76 pivotally tothe anchorage part 75, the arm is formed as a length of resilient metalstrip connected rigidly at 84 to the anchorage part 75 and adapted toflex when more than a predetermined downward movement is transmittedthereto from the rail.

In Figures 10 and 11 is depicted a further modification in which theoperating element 74 is again made in two parts, namely, an anchoragepart 75 and an arm 76, the arm 76 being of rigid construction butpivoted at 85 about a horizontal axis parallel to the length of the railto the anchorage part 75, and being provided with friction pads 86 whichengage with the anchorage part 75 and permit of the arm 76 pivoting intoa new permanent angular position relative to the rail if the rail shouldmove downwardly through more than a certain distance in relation to therail bed. The arrangement shown in Figures 10 and 11 in fact operates inexactly the same way as that shown in Figures 1 to 3 except that the arm76 does not return to its initial position in relation to the rail ifexcessive downward movement of the rail occurs.

. In Figure 12 is shown a modification of the arrangement shown inFigures 10 and 11, in which the operating element is of three-partconstruction, namely, an anchorage part 75, an arm 76, and anintermediate part 87 on which the arm is mounted, this intermediate part87 .being frictionally pivoted to the anchorage part 75 in like mannerto the preceding construction.

In this latter construction the arm 76 is itself of resilient formconnected at one end to the pivot 85 and adapted at its other end toengage with the pump actuating element 68, the arrangement being suchthat if a moderately excessive downward movement of the rail occurs, thearm 76 flexes in relation to the intermediate part 87, while if a verysubstantial downward rail move ment takes place, the upper side of thearm 76 then engages with an abutment 88 on the intermediate part,causing the latter then to pivot relative to the anchorage part 75 as inthe case of the preceding construction.

Preferably as shown at 89, a spring is provided between the arm 76 andthe intermediate part 87 for further controlling the movement of the arm76 in relation to the intermediate part.

The present invention provides a device for feeding lubricant to a railsuch as a railway rail, as illustrated, so as to lubricate the headthereof and the flanges of the passing vehicle wheels, which device isof a particularly simple construction, and insofar as the feeding unitis mounted on the rail bed, the feeding unit itself is not displaced atall during the operation of the device so that it is not subjected tothe vibration of the passing traflic.

Further, with the preferred construction as illustrated in Figures 1 to4 and 6, provision is made for removing the pump 31 from the feedingunit for cleaning or inspection without disturbing the position of thefeeding unit itself other than to the extent necessary to displace thefeeding unit slightly longitudinally of the rail so as to bring itsactuating element 68 clear of the arm 76.

At the same time the lower or inlet end of the pump 31 is immersed inthe lubricant so that special pipes for feeding the lubricant from thelubricant container to the pump are dispensed with.

Again with the preferred arrangement as shown in Figures 1 to 3, as wellas shown in Figures 7 and 9 to 12, provision is made for avoiding thetransmission of excessive rail deflection to the pump.

What I claim then is:

1. In a rail lubricating device a lubricant feeding unit mounted in astationary manner on a rail supporting bed, said unit embodying acontainer for lubricant and a lubricant feeding pump, means forsupplying lubricant from the pump to the rail, a pump operating elementmounted on the rail so as to project to one side of the rail, said pumpoperating element being adapted to be displaced in a substantiallyvertical direction under the vertical rail deflection consequent on thepassing traflic, a casing for said pump, means mounting said pumpremovably within said casing, said pump being of reciprocating formhaving a plunger mounted for substantially vertical movement within saidcasing, said pump having an actuating element mounted thereon forreciprocatory movement in alignment with the pump plunger, means fortransmitting operative movement to said pump plunger from saidreciprocating actuating element, said actuating element projectingexternally of the pump casing and being in detachable engagement withsaid pump operating element, said actuating element and operatingelement being relatively displaceable in a direction to bring saidoperating element clear of the pump actuating element and an associatedpump so as to permit of the latter being removed from the pump casingand replaced when desired.

2. A lubricator for the purpose described, comprising a lubricantfeeding unit adapted for mounting in a stationary manner on the railsupporting bed, said unit embodying a' container for lubricant and alubricant feeding pump, means for supplying lubricant from the pump to arail, a pump operating element adapted to be-mounted on the rail so asto project to one side thereof and adapted to be displaced in asubstantially vertical direction under the vertical rail deflectionconsequent on the passing traffic, a casing for said pump, said pumpbeing of reciprocating form having a plunger mounted for substantiallyvertical movement and pro vided with an actuating element mounted on thepump casing for reciprocatory movement in alignment with 'the pumpplunger, the actuating element projecting externally cf the casing andbeing adapted to be engaged releasably by said operating element, andmeans for preventing more than a certain vertical deflection of the railbeing transmitted to the pump plunger.

3. A lubricator according to claim 2, wherein theoperating elementcomprises an armadapted to be mounted for spring-controlled pivotalmovement in relation to the rail, the arrangement being such that ifmore than a predetermined downward displacement of the rail occurs, thearm pivots against this spring loading in relation to the rail withoutfurther movement being transmitted to the pump plunger.

4. A lubricator according to claim 2, wherein the operating clementcomprises an arm adapted to be mounted for friction-controlled movementin relation to the rail, the arrangement being such that for normalvertical deflections of the rail, the rail movement is transmitted tothe arm without the arm being displaced in relation to the rail, whileif an excessive movement of the rail occurs, the arm moves relatively tothe rail against its friction control into a new position in relation tothe rail without such excessive movement of the'rail being transmittedto the pump plunger.

5. A lubricator according to claim 2, wherein the operating elementcomprises an arm adapted to be mounted for spring-controlled movement inrelation to an intermediate part having a friction-controlled pivotedconnection to the rail, the arrangement being such that if moderateabnormal vertical rail deflections occur, the arm is displaced inrelation to the intermediate part against its spring loading without theintermediate part being itself displaced in relation to the rail, whileif excessive vertical movements of the rail take place, the intermediatepart is itself displaced in relation to the rail into a new positionagainst its friction loading, carrying with it the said arm.

6. A lubricator according to claim 2, wherein a lostmotionspring-controlled connection is provided between the pump actuatingelement and the pump plunger, the arrangement being such that if anexcessive vertical displacement of the rail occurs, relative movementtakes place between the actuating element and the pump plunger withoutsuch excessive movement being imparted to the pump plunger itself.

7. A lubricator according to claim 2, wherein the actuating membercomprises an inherently resilient arm of suflicient strength to actuatethe pump, the arrangement being such that when the member is displacedthrough the limit of movement required to actuate the pump, it willyield in response to continued deflection of the rail.

8. In a rail lubricating device a lubricant feeding unit mounted in astationary manner on a rail supporting bed, said unit embodying acontainer for lubricant and a lubricant feeding pump, means forsupplying lubricant from the pump to a rail, a pump operating armmounted on the rail so as to project in a substantially horizontaldirection to one side of the rail, said pump operating arm being adaptedto be displaced in a substantially vertical direction under the verticalrail deflection consequent on the passing traffic, a casing for saidpump, means mounting said pump removably within said casing, said pumpbeing of reciprocating form having a plunger mounted for substantiallyvertical movement within said casing, said pump having an actuatingelement mounted thereon for reciprocatory movement in alignment with thepump plunger, means for transmitting operative movement to said pumpplunger from said reciprocating actuating element, said actuatingelement projecting externally of the pump casing and being in detachableengagement with said pump operating arm, said pump actuating element andpump operating arm being displaceable relatively in a substantiallyhoriz'ontal direction longitudinally of the rail so as to bring the saidarm clear of the actuating element and the associated pump so as topermit of the latter being removed from the pump casing and replacedwhen desired. q 7

9. In a rail lubricating device a lubricant feeding unit mounted in astationary manner on a rail supporting bed, said unit embodying acontainer for lubricant and a lubricant feeding pump, means forsupplying lubricant from the pump to a rail, a pump operating elementmounted on the rail so as to project to one side of'the rail, said pumpoperating element being adapted to be displaced in a substantiallyvertical direction under the vertical rail deflection consequent on thepassing traflic, a casing for said pump, said pump comprising a barrel,means mounting said barrel removably within said casing with thelongitudinal axis of the barrel vertical, a plunger vertically slidablewithin said barrel, said barrel having an inlet opening at its lowerend, said casing having a lubricant receiving space within the interiorthereof adjacent the lower end of said barrel 'so that the lower end ofsaid barrel with its associated inlet opening is in situ permanentlyimmersed in lubrican't," said lubricant receiving space at thelower'e'nd of said barrel communicating directly without interveningpipes with said container, a pump actuating element connected to saidpump plunger and projecting externally of said pump casing forreciprocatory movement in alignment with the pump plunger, means fortransmitting operative movement to said pump plunger from saidreciprocating actuating element, said actuating element projectingexternally of the pump casing and being in detachable engagement withsaid pump operating element, said actuating element and operatingelement being relatively displaceable in a direction to bring saidoperating element clear of the pump actuating element and the associatedpump so as to permit of the latter being removed from the pump casingand replaced when desired.

10. A lubricant according to claim 9 wherein the pump casing comprises apump receiving chamber connected integrally to said container andreceiving removably said pump, said pump receiving chamber beingseparated from said container by a partition providing an openingproviding a direct communication between said lubricating container andsaid pump receiving chamber adjacent the lower end ofsaid pump barreland inlet opening therein.

11. In a rail lubricating device a lubricant feeding unit mounted in astationary manner on a rail supporting bed, said unit embodying acontainer forlubricant and a lubricant feeding pump, means for supplyinglubricant from the pump to a rail, a pump operating element mounted onthe rail so as to project to one side of the rail, said pump operatingelement being adapted to be displaced in a substantially verticaldirection under the vertical rail deflection consequent on the passingtraffic, a casing for said pump, said pump comprising a barrel, aplunger reciprocable in a substantially vertical direction within saidbarrel, inlet and outlet valves to said pump carried by said barrel andforming with said barrel and plunger a complete self contained pumpunit, means mounting said pump unit detachably in said casing so thatsaid unit complete with said two valves is withdrawable therefrom, saidpump having an actuating element mounted thereon for reciprocatorymovement in alignment with the pump plunger, means for transmittingoperative movement to said pump plunger from said reciprocatingactuating element, said actuating element projecting externally of thepump casing and being in detachable engagement with said pump operatingelement, said actuating element and operating element being relativelydisplaceable in a direction to bring said operating element clear of thepump actuating element and the associated pump so as to permit of thelatter being removed from the pump casing and replaced when desired.

12. In a rail lubricating device a lubricant feeding unit mounted in astationary manner on a rail supporting bed, said unit embodying acontainer for lubricant and a lubricant feeding pump, means forsupplying lubricant from the pump to a rail, a pump operating elementmounted on the rail so as to project to one side of the rail, said pumpoperating element being adapted to be displaced in a substantiallyvertical direction under the vertical rail deflection consequent on thepassing trafiic, a casing for said pump, means mounting said pumpremovably within said casing, said pump being of reciprocating'formhaving a plunger mounted for substantially vertical movement within saidcasing, said pump having an actuating element mounted thereon forreciprocatory movement in alignment with the pump plunger, means fortransmitting operative movement to said pump plunger from saidreciprocating actuating element, said actuating element projectingexternally of the pump casing and being in detachableengagement withsaid pump operating element, said actuating element and operatingelement being relatively displaceable in a direction to bring saidoperating element clear of the 'pump actuating element and theassociated 'pump so as to permit of the latter being removed from thepump casing and replaced when desired, said pump having associatedtherewith a by-pass circuit provided with an adjustable control valve,the arrangement being such that when the valve is fully open, a greaterproportion of the lubricant delivered by the pump passes around theby-pass circuit, and a lesser proportion is supplied to the rail,partial closure of the bypass valve being adapted to cause a greaterproportion of the pump-delivered lubricant to be fed to the rail.

13. A lubricator for the purpose described, comprising a lubricantfeeding unit mounted in a stationary manner on a rail supporting bed,said unit embodying a container for lubricant and a lubricant feedingpump, means for supplying lubricant from the pump to a rail, a pumpoperating element mounted on the rail so as to project to one sidethereof and adapted to be displaced in a substantially verticaldirection under the vertical rail deflection consequent on the passingtraflic, a casing for said pump, said pump being of reciprocating formhaving a plunger mounted for substantially vertical movement andprovided with an actuating element mounted on the pump casing forreciprocatory movement in alignment with the pump plunger, the actuatingelement projecting externally of the casing and being adapted to beengaged releasably by said operating element, and means for preventingmore than a certain vertical deflection of the rail being transmitted tothe pump plunger, said pump having associated therewith a by-passcircuit provided with an adjustable control valve, the arrangement beingsuch that when the valve is fully open, a greater proportion of thelubricant delivered by the pump passes around the by-pass circuit, and alesser proportion is supplied to the rail, partial closure of theby-pass valve being adapted to cause a greater proportion of thepump-delivered lubricant to be fed to the rail.

14. In a rail lubricating device a lubricant feeding unit mounted in astationary manner on a rail supporting bed, said unit embodying acontainer for lubricant and a lubricant feeding pump, means forsupplying lubricant from the pump to a rail, a pump operating elementmounted on the rail so as to project to one side of the rail, said pumpoperating element being adapted to be displaced in a substantiallyvertical direction under the vertical rail deflection consequent on thepassing trafiic, a casing for said pump, said pump comprising a barrel,means mounting said barrel removably within said casing with thelongitudinal axis of the barrel vertical, a plunger vertically slidablewithin said barrel, said barrel having an inlet opening at its lowerend, said casing having a lubricant receiving space within the interiorthereof adjacent the lower end of said barrel so that the lower end ofsaid barrel with its associated inlet opening is in situ permanentlyimmersed in lubricant, said lubricant receiving space at the lower endof said barrel communicating directly without intervening pipes withsaid container, a pump actuating element connected to said pump plungerand projecting externally of said pump casing for reciprocatory movementin alignment with the pump plunger, means for transmitting operativemovement to said pump plunger from said reciprocating actuating element,said actuating element projecting externally of the pump casing andbeing in detachable engagement with said pump operating element, saidactuating element and operating element being relatively displaceable ina direction to bring said operating element clear of the pump actuatingelement and the associated pump so as to permit of the latter beingremoved from the pump casing and replaced when desired, said pump havingassociated therewith a by-pass circuit provided with an adjustablecontrol valve, the arrangement being such that when the valve is fullyopen, a greater proportion of the lubricant delivered by the pump passesaround the by-pass circuit, and a lesser proportion is supplied to therail, partial closure of the by-pass valve being adapted to cause agreater proportion of the pumpdelivered lubricant to be fed to the rail.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

